HEAD OF VALLEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1943, Page 3

HEAD OF VALLEY

LEADING TO ROME CONTROLLED BY FIFTH ARMY. INCREASED SCOPE FOR USE OF TANKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.17 a.m.) RUGBY, December 19. With the capture by the Americans of the village of San Pietro, at the head of the 20-mile Liri Valley, the Fifth Army now controls the head of the Liri Valley, leading to Rome. Ten miles down the valley lies the German stronghold of Cassino. Tanks are likely to be used increasingly as -the Fifth Army drive develops along the comparatively flat country of the valley. A correspondent says it is officially announced that the army has already advanced a mile north of San Pietro, where, as everywhere else, the Germans are fighting in a very determined manner and counter-attacking at every opportunity. Three miles north of Filignano, the Americans have occupied the mountain village of Ceruasola, 2,000 feet up.

On the Eighth Army front, hard fighting is continuing and our troops are firmly established at most places along the Ortona-Orsogna Road. The .village of Pioggio Fiorito, eight miles from Ortona and 4J mlies from Orsogna has been captured and we have improved our positions. Short advances have also been made in the centre of the Fifth Army front and along the northern sector. Some of these were -achieved by French troops, among whom are Moroccan sharpshooters. Invaders yesterday successfully attacked supply dumps at Terracina, 53 miles south of Rome. Other aircraft bombed and strafed positions in the Viticuso and Mount Troccho area, where large explosions were seen. Marauders scored direct hits on a span of a bridge over the River Var, west of Nice, which carries »German supplies to Italy. Warhawks strafed a schooner and launch at Split, .in Yugoslavia and. Italian aircraft strafed and bombed an airfield at Podorica.